Low Vitamin D Increases Risk Of Death
August 13, 2008
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Seems like there are studies every couple of weeks that show that low levels of vitamin D pose a risk for some disease. So it is not surprise that low vitamin D decreases the overall risk of death.
The most recent study looked at NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data. The researchers analyzed data from 13,331 participants who were at least 20 years of age and were first enrolled between October 1988 and October 1994 and were followed until the end of 2000. Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were correlated to all cause mortality.
The results show that the highest rates of death were in the participants whose vitamin D levels were in the lowest quarter less than 17.8 ng/ml). There was a 26% increase in mortality.
This study indicated that the rate cancer and cardiovascular disease may increase in those individuals with the lowest vitamin D levels. This is in agreement with a number of other studies that have indicated that cardiovascular disease including peripheral artery disease (blocked arteries in the legs which causes numbness and pain, and may make walking difficult) and several cancers.
Vitamin D is found in many fish, fortified dairy products and is made by the skin in response to sunlight. In the skin if too much vitamin is made it is broken down. There is some evidence that over supplementation with vitamin D is not good. So if you chose to take supplements stick within the recommended range with currently are; ages 19-50 200 IU, ages 51-70 400 IU and aged 71 and over 600 IU.
Technorati Tags: vitamin D, death, mortality, NHANES
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[…] Recently, a lot of research has shown that many people do not get enough vitamin D. There is a trend that number of people vitamin D deficient increases with age. See the recent post Low vitamin D increases the risk of death. […]